Chapter 13

Early the next morning, Chen Xi was awakened by the noisy commotion downstairs. She opened her heavy, sore eyes and stared blankly at the incandescent light overhead for a moment before tossing off the covers and climbing out of bed in one go.

Glancing at the clock on the table, it was not yet seven o’clock. Who could have arrived so early?

Just then, she heard her aunt carefully asking, “Has all the seafood arrived? When will the head chef get here?”

An older man’s hurried voice responded, “Chef Xu will be here any minute now, no more than five minutes.”

Accompanied by the clatter of unloading, Chen Xi slipped into her slippers, circled around the bedside, and rummaged through the wardrobe for a plain T-shirt and jeans to change into. Knowing she would be helping out today, she tied her hair up into a neat bun.

After washing up, she went downstairs to find her aunt already busy organizing the dishes for the day. Upon seeing Chen Xi, her aunt waved her over and assigned her the task of looking after her little cousin.

The little cousin was three years old and had just started kindergarten; he was still asleep. Chen Xi’s uncle had left early for some unknown errand and was nowhere to be seen.

Chen Xi stood at the foot of the stairs, uncertain what to do amidst the chaotic hall. After a moment, she turned back upstairs to check on her little cousin.

Pushing the door open softly, she found him sound asleep in his child-sized bed. Although not fond of children, Chen Xi was always fond of this little cousin, who had a soft, delicate appearance and fair skin.

She tiptoed to his bedside, bending down to study him carefully. Inheriting the good looks of her aunt and uncle, the little cousin was indeed quite handsome.

His skin was smooth and pale, with a high nose bridge, double eyelids, big eyes, and a head full of adorable little curls.

Chen Xi reached out to lightly touch one of his curls from a distance, then quietly sat down beside the bed, waiting for him to wake.

The quiet and boring wait gave Chen Xi time to study the little cousin’s room. Her aunt loved him dearly, giving him the room with the best lighting, a custom-made child’s bed, cartoon pictures carefully pasted on the walls by her aunt herself, and a corner set aside solely for his toys.

Looking at the little cousin who had grown up surrounded by love, Chen Xi couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. If her parents were still alive, wouldn’t she also be their cherished treasure?

When would this life of depending on others finally come to an end?

Before Chen Xi could figure it out, the little cousin’s sudden cry interrupted her thoughts. Seeing him open his eyes, struggling his limbs and letting out a sharp wail, Chen Xi quickly bent over to pick him up.

His limbs were soft and pliant, like holding a delicate doll. Supporting his back with one hand, she gently soothed him.

Perhaps he was hungry, as the crying didn’t cease. Unable to calm him down, Chen Xi had no choice but to carry him downstairs to find her aunt.

Her aunt was swamped with work but sighed upon seeing her son crying for a cuddle and waved her off, saying, “Can’t you see I’m busy? Who has time to hold him now?”

“He’s probably hungry. Make some formula milk for him—two scoops in 300 ml of water. Be sure to sterilize the bottle first. The water temperature shouldn’t be too hot; test a few drops on the back of your hand. Only if it’s neither hot nor cold should you feed him.”

Chen Xi acknowledged with a soft “Okay,” then went to prepare the milk with her crying cousin in her arms.

Having never done it before, she was cautious, measuring precisely to avoid mistakes.

After carefully following her aunt’s instructions, she handed the bottle to her cousin. Sure enough, he was hungry—snatching the nipple, he drank more than half the bottle in one gulp.

Chen Xi placed him in the child’s chair and sat quietly beside him as he drank.

Around nine o’clock, guests began arriving one after another. Some were relatives of her aunt, friends from the beauty salon, but most were her uncle’s colleagues and business partners.

Chen Xi only recognized a few faces—those who often came to their home for meals.

Her aunt’s friends from the salon loved children and eagerly reached out to hold her little cousin.

Seeing several aunties scramble to hold him, Chen Xi took the opportunity to slip to the restroom.

Upon exiting, she heard a commotion from the courtyard and instinctively looked over.

A black Mercedes had pulled up, its license plate as ostentatious as ever. The owner, surrounded by a cluster of people, slowly stepped out from the back seat.

The man’s usual casual, carefree demeanor was replaced by a sharply tailored dark suit, slicked-back hair revealing striking features, giving him an air of maturity.

Standing taller than most around him, he seemed to tower above the crowd like a crane among chickens.

Lunch was served in the courtyard, with tables and chairs already neatly arranged. Her uncle led Zhou Yanzhou to the main table and invited him to take the seat of honor.

He seemed comfortable wherever he went.

Chen Xi’s gaze settled on Zhou Yanzhou. Watching her uncle greet him with a respectful smile, she couldn’t help but wonder: just who was he, exactly?

—

Zhou Yanzhou’s true intention at the birthday banquet was not to partake in the festivities. Scanning the yard, he found no familiar faces and frowned in frustration.

A group of strangers approached, eager to toast and make connections, hoping to glean some information. Zhou Yanzhou, uninterested, gave a quick look to Chen Huai and slipped away.

Guided by memory, he passed through the yard and slipped into a small path leading to the back door, seeking some solitude.

A small patch of gardenia blooms filled the courtyard with a faint, sweet fragrance. Zhou Yanzhou stood beside the flowers, lighting a cigarette out of idle habit.

After a couple of puffs, he caught sight of a figure darting nearby and called out, “Stop.”

Chen Xi’s steps faltered. She turned calmly toward him.

At the moment their eyes met, Chen Xi was startled to see a faint, inscrutable smile flicker in Zhou Yanzhou’s dark eyes.

He flicked the ash from his cigarette and narrowed his eyes to appraise her from head to toe. Dressed simply and plainly, her hair tied neatly back revealing a delicate, clean face, her cold, stubborn almond-shaped eyes sparked a ridiculous thought in his mind—

“Coming here today was the right choice.”

They held each other’s gaze for two seconds before Zhou Yanzhou broke the silence: “Don’t remember me?”

Chen Xi frowned instantly, confusion spreading across her small face.

He hadn’t said a word, yet somehow she remembered everything?

Hadn’t he wanted to avoid her, dismiss her without a word? Why was he stirring things up again now?

Zhou Yanzhou caught the look on Chen Xi’s face and couldn’t help but twitch his mouth. This little girl held grudges well.

But he was never one to be a saint, nor did he care if the words he tossed out couldn’t be taken back.

He had gone back on his word before, just never so blatantly.

The idea of being outwitted by a little girl made Zhou Yanzhou chuckle quietly.

He stubbed out the cigarette, stepped up to Chen Xi, lowered his gaze to study her face for a moment, then familiar enough to ask, “Why so quiet?”

Chen Xi hadn’t intended to argue with him, but hearing Zhou Yanzhou’s insincere tone, she instinctively retorted, “...What do you want me to say?”

Sensing she was sulking, Zhou Yanzhou raised his eyebrows and casually changed the subject: “Summer vacation started?”

Chen Xi was speechless.

He laughed and said earnestly, “Just asking. Don’t treat me like an enemy.”

Chen Xi couldn’t quite grasp the meaning of his last words, so she pursed her lips and replied sullenly, “It’s already July. Of course there’s vacation. Didn’t you ever go to school?”

Zhou Yanzhou was left speechless by her sharp response. Clearing his throat, he glanced at her calmly and said, “I did go to school for a few days, but it’s been so long since high school, I’ve forgotten.”

Chen Xi fell silent.

The man seemed to remember something and deliberately asked, “Have your final grades come out? Did you fail anything?”

Chen Xi took a breath and reminded him, “The exams were only two days ago. It’s too soon for results. Also, my grades are pretty good. I rarely fail.”

Zhou Yanzhou found himself bored arguing with a little girl.

But looking at the lively, animated expression on her face, his fatigue from the past two weeks seemed to vanish.

He leisurely asked, “How long is your summer break?”

Chen Xi eyed him warily and, after confirming he was just making conversation, replied with a hint of suspicion, “One or two months. Why?”

Noticing her caution, Zhou Yanzhou casually asked, “Want to go out and have some fun?”

Chen Xi was dumbfounded. “Go where?”

Seeing a glimmer of interest, Zhou Yanzhou leisurely tempted her, “Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere in the country, I’ll cover all expenses. If you want to go abroad, that’s possible too—do you have a passport?”

The more Chen Xi heard, the more absurd it sounded. Though she thought Zhou Yanzhou was wealthy, she never imagined they could be close enough after just a few meetings to travel together.

Was he a conman?

Her brow furrowed deeper and deeper until finally, disbelief showed on her face. “...Can you stop saying things like that?”

Zhou Yanzhou looked puzzled, “What things?”

Chen Xi pinched her palm and, eyes closed, exposed him, “If you’re trying to trick me into going out, you sound a lot like a scammer...”

For the first time, someone called him a liar, and he nearly laughed in disbelief.

Rolling his eyes at Chen Xi, he retorted sarcastically, “Fine, being a good guy doesn’t get me anywhere.”

“You can just think I’m a scammer, no big deal.”

Chen Xi was speechless.

They stood in the backyard for a long while. Chen Xi touched her burning earlobe and finally broke the silence: “...I’m going in.”

Zhou Yanzhou snorted derisively and ignored her.

Only then did Chen Xi realize he was truly annoyed.

She licked her lips dryly, muttered “Goodbye,” then turned and slipped through the back door, disappearing from sight.

Zhou Yanzhou was quite upset.

After everyone left, he lit another cigarette and took several deep drags to calm his frustration.

Young as he was, he thought a lot—and wasn’t afraid to think himself to exhaustion.

Five minutes before the birthday banquet officially began, Zhou Yanzhou was invited back to his seat.

In the center of the courtyard, a stage had been set up, decorated with several bouquets. Xu Jingqian stood on the stage with a microphone, making a brief introduction.

Zhou Yanzhou sat in his chair, playing on his phone. Occasionally, he glanced up to see the little girl who had been so sharp-tongued with him earlier bustling about, carrying flower arrangements.

To avoid disrupting Xu Jingqian’s speech, Chen Xi bent over, deliberately lowering her presence. The bouquet was heavy, and she struggled to carry it, veins bulging on her forehead.

After finally finishing, her rosy face flushed from the effort.

Watching the petite figure in the corner, Zhou Yanzhou frowned ever so slightly.

So no one else was left to boss around?